Hong Kong activists get tough prison sentences

The Chinese authorities have sent a message that dissent will not be tolerated by handing out stiff prison sentences to Hong Kong pro-democracy activists.

A court sentenced five freedom advocates, including media tycoon Jimmy Lai, to up to 18 months in prison for organising a march during the 2019 anti-government protests.

A total of nine advocates were given jail terms, but four of them, including 82-year-old lawyer and former lawmaker Martin Lee, had their sentences suspended.

They were found guilty earlier this month of organising and taking part in the August 2019 protests, in which an estimated 1.7 million people marched in opposition to a bill that would have allowed suspects to be extradited to mainland China.

Their convictions and sentencing are another blow to the city’s democracy movement, which is under attack from Beijing and the Hong Kong authorities.

Lai, founder of Hong Kong’s Apple Daily tabloid, was sentenced to 12 months in prison. He was already held on other charges, including collusion with foreign forces to intervene in the city’s affairs, a new crime under a national security law imposed on the city in 2020.

Lee Cheuk-yan, a prodemocracy activist and former lawmaker who helped organise candlelight vigils in Hong Kong on the anniversary of the crackdown on prodemocracy protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989, was sentenced to 12 months in prison.

Lawyers Albert Ho and Margaret Ng both had their 12-month sentences suspended for two years.

Former politician Leung Kwok-hung was sentenced to 18 months, while another former legislator, Cyd Ho, was sentenced to eight months.

Two other former politicians, Au Nok-hin and Leung Yiu-chung, were also given jail sentences.

Au got 10 months while Leung’s eight-month jail term was suspended for one year.

“I’m ready to face the penalty and sentencing and I’m proud that I can walk with the people of Hong Kong for this democracy,”

Lee Cheuk-yan said ahead of his court appearance.

Hong Kong had enjoyed a vibrant political culture and freedoms not seen elsewhere in China while it was a British colony.

Beijing pledged to allow the city to retain civil liberties for 50 years after it reverted to Chinese rule in 1997, but recently has ushered in a series of measures and electoral reforms many fear are a step closer to making Hong Kong no different from mainland cities.

Under the new rules, Hong Kong residents can be held liable for any speech or action deemed secessionist, subversive, terrorist or perceived as colluding with hostile foreign political groups or individuals.

Electoral changes mean just 20 out of 90 legislative council members will be directly elected and Beijing will retain even tighter control over the body that picks Hong Kong’s future chief executives.

Hong Kong’s last British governor, Chris Patten, said the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) “assault” on freedoms in Hong Kong and its rule of law remains relentless.

“This week, we have witnessed some of the most distinguished of the city’s peaceful and moderate champions of liberty and democracy placed in Beijing’s vengeful sights,” he said in a statement.

“The CCP simply does not understand that you cannot bludgeon and incarcerate people into loving a totalitarian and corrupt regime.”